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Rogier van der Weyden (1399/1400-1464) - Portrait of a woman
Classified oil. 1460, Washington, USA. National Gallery of Art.

They say that when Rogier van der Weyden painted portraits of the rich and noble man, as payment for the work it took no more, no less, as a lifetime pension. The artist died a very wealthy and left a lot of money for charity.
Van der Weyden did not try to exact likeness of the portrait and the original. He was guided rather their own ideas about what should look like Knight or Tinker, what should be a great lady. Portraits commissioned for the ages. They had to tell the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of customers, as were their ancestors.
Portraits - a visible history of race. The young woman shown in the picture, knows this. Well-behaved folded hands, drooping eyes, pursed lips - all said that it was aware of the responsibility of such an important case as posing for a portrait. For generations, girls in this family will be at her picture taken with her example. Quiet dignity, generosity, devotion - qualities that should distinguish every young lady. This portrait will serve for one - ideal to be achieved, for others - a warning, for the third - a reproach.

Jan van Eyck (about 1390-1441) - Portrait of Cardinal Niccolo Albergati
Oil on wood. 1431 Vienna, Austria. Museum of Fine Arts.

Jan van Eyck was at the very beginning of the Netherlands portrait. Largely due to the genre he later became very independent and very popular.
At the time of van Eyck's The Pope is more powerful than many European sovereigns. Church leaders have enjoyed enormous prestige and played a prominent role in politics. One such individual is depicted in the famous picture of van Eyck. Cardinal Albergati spent his youth in the monastery of the Cartesians, known for its harsh statute. As an envoy of the Pope, he participated in the negotiations between France and Burgundy. (Then they were two independent and mutually hostile states.) Albergati efforts led to the conclusion of a peace treaty. There is no doubt that van Eyck genuinely respected this talented man, one of the most educated and influential men of his age.

Jos van Cleve (about 1485-1540/41) - Eleanor French
Classified oil. Around 1530 Vienna, Austria. Museum of Fine Arts.

XVI century. The two most powerful European powers - France and Spain - are often encountered on the battlefield. In one such battle of the Spanish monarch Charles V captured the French king Francis I. While the winner reflected on what ransom demand from the crowned captive woman intervened in the case. Sister Eleanor fell in love with the Spanish king hapless foe, and Charles V decided to take this feeling for their own purposes. He let go of Francis I, taking with him a promise to marry the princess. This marriage was to bring peace between their countries. But Eleanor had to wait four long years before the windy French king thought of him in captivity imposed by the bride.
Dutch painter Van Cleef painted a portrait of a Spanish princess in a few years after she became the wife of Francis I and Queen of France. It is hard to read on the beautiful face of disdain - whether she is happy with those who waited so long. This is a portrait of this ruler, from childhood accustomed to hide their feelings from everyone ...

Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) - Self-portrait with his parents, brothers and sisters
Oil on canvas. 1612-1615 years. St. Petersburg, Russia. The Hermitage.

Jacob Jordaens Flemish painter born into a large and happy family. His father - a merchant cloth - had eleven children, of which the future artist was a senior. All his life he spent in his native town, surrounded by near and dear to him. To them he devoted one of his first paintings - "Self-portrait with his parents, brothers and sisters", which is sometimes called the "Family buster."
Jordaens was able to convey the atmosphere of love, warmth and comfort that surrounded him since childhood. The whole family gathered for a meal. Nobody thinks to pose for the artist. Mother with love is watching the game the younger children. The father raises his glass of wine that relieve fatigue. Serene beautiful faces sisters Jordaens. The artist is also found among his relatives, with a lute in his hands. It was only a servant, the serving fruit, pert and sly looks at the audience.